The design plans for Riverview Health Stadium have reached its first hurdle – a brick wall.
According to city ordinances, the Westfield High School stadium is in the U.S. 31 overlay and subject to façade building standards. Associate Planner Andrew Murray said all visible façades must be made of brick or 60 percent brick and another building material. This wall would run the length of the home stands on the west side of the stadium.
Westfield Washington Schools’ officials argue that the stadium is a structure not a building and are asking for a variance. They have petitioned the Westfield Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance on the development standards. The hearing will be at July 8 BZA meeting.
WWS Business Director Nick Verhoff said the potential brick wall would cost the district an additional $300,000 to $500,000 to the project whish is using no taxpayer dollars to build.
“We’ve tried to avoid from the start having it look like a brick Taj Mahal. We’re not competing with our neighbors to the south,” he said. “The lights give it away that it’s a stadium. That’s why we are asking for a variance.”
Verhoff added that the freestanding wall would require a change in bleacher designs so the seating is attached to provide support. He also said the district has plans for an LED sign to face U.S. 31.
The WHS soccer field, which is adjacent to the football stadium and will share a main entrance, was not required to have the U.S. 31 overlay façade requirements due to a hill behind the stadium. Verhoff said because of a pipeline behind the stadium a large hill is not an option.
Jeff Olson of CSO Architects said the district is “pretty limited” with options due to spacing between the stadium and U.S. 31. He said if the galvanized aluminum bleachers are an issue there is a colorful, cheaper option.
“The backside of the bleachers could have a powder coating finish on the back and underside but they would not comply (with the ordinance),” Olson said.
Besides the potential wall, the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission approved the development site plans for the 5,500-seat community stadium plans, which plans to break ground in July. Verhoff said bids for the project are currently out and expected back by the end of June. Bids will be awarded in early July if reasonably priced and construction will begin. The district expects to close on its land sale of the current stadium and adjacent land in the next 30 days. Verhoff said naming rights are still available for the football and soccer fields.
Other business conducted at the meeting included:
What happened: Primary plat and development plan review for 44 single family residential lots
What it means: The property is approximately 16 acres on the east side of Carey Road, south of 186th Street and north of Ind. 32. The proposed development plan is for the platting of 44 single-family detached residential lots within the existing Spring Mill Trails development.
What happened: Change in zoning for Sundown Gardens, Inc.
What it means: The petitioner requests a change from agriculture single family 1 to the Spring Mill Road/186th Street development. Sundown Gardens, 505 W. 186th St., is approximately 16 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection. The change of zoning would allow for a mixed-use agritourism, garden and lawn center, nursery and commercial development. The development ordinance establishes four areas for the business to be used for garden and design, an outdoor showroom/park, market/plaza and garden area.
